Target throwing trap



Oct. 29, 1963 G. H. DARRELL TARGET THRQWING TRAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24, 1960 INVENTOR. GEORGE H DARRELL Oct. 29, 1963 H. DARRELL TARGET THROWING TRAP Filed March 24, 1960 2 SheetsSheet 2 FIG. 3

FIG. 5

INVENTOR. GEORGE H. DARRELL BY ZWWWZZZ United States Patent 3,108,582 TARGET THROWING TRAP George H. Darrell, Dedham, Mass. Filed Mar. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 17,299 15 Claims. (Cl. 124-6) This invention relates to machines or traps for throwing clay pigeons in trap or skeet shooting. It comprises new and improved mechanism for delivering targets one by one from an overhead stack to a rotary throwing member at its center of rotation by contact transfer, that is to say, by means of a transferring disc or plate that engages the lowermost target in the stack and descends with the target thereon to the throwing member without requiring or permitting any appreciable free fall whatever of the target.

As herein shown, the transfer disc in its initial position constitutes part of the throwing member and lies flush with its surface. It is so constructed and arranged as to be elevated to a position in which it sustains momentarily the weight of the stack and then descends carrying with it the lowermost target, while the remainder of the stack is clamped in position.

It will be understood that clay pigeon targets are extremely fragile and are likely to become broken or cracked if dropped, or permitted to fall even a short distance in the process of transfer from the stack to the throwing arm. An important object of the present invention is to eliminate the danger of damage to the targets by providing mechanism that effects transfer while the target is at all times supported throughout its entire rim area and while being moved without shock or jar or impact of any kind.

The novel features of the target transferring mechanism will be pointed out hereinafter in more detail together with other novel features involving a combination with the various elements of the trap. This and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is'a view in elevation partly in section.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the throwing arm.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the throwing arm as seen from beneath with parts shown in section on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation of the throwing arm, and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the throwing arm as seen from beneath with parts shown in section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

The invention is herein shown as embodied in a target throwing machine of the general type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,711,726, June 28, 1955, to which reference may be had for details not herein illustrated. The machine is adapted for throwing clay pigeon targets of conventional shape of which a stack of six is shown in elevation in FIG. 1 while a single target is shown in cross section beneath the stack in the initial position in which it is delivered to the throwing member of the trap. A portion of the machine frame 11 is shown in this figure and to it is secured a bracket, not shown, carrying an overhead horizontally disposed bar 12. The stack of targets is retained in position within a circular aperture provided in the bar 12 and upon which are provided a pair of adjustable apertured plates 13 arranged to be fixed in adjusted position by a clamping screw 14. The stack is clamped in position by three circumferentially spaced rolls of elastomeric material of which two are shown in FIG. 1. The clamping roll 15 is carried by an angle piece 16 and set in stationary position. The third clamping roll 17 is carried by a horizontally movable slide 18. It is normally held in clamping position as shown in FIG. 1 by a spring, not shown, and is arranged to be moved out- 3,108,582 Patented Oct. 29, 1963 wardly to target releasing position by a cam, not shown, operating in timed relation to the movement of the underlying transferring disc, as will presently be described. The stack is shown as partially encircled by a cylindrical guard 19 carried by one of the adjusting plates 13.

The throwing member of the trap comprises a rectangular boxed shaped arm 20 constructed of upper and lower inter-fitting sections, as shown in FIG. 1, and secured to a hub 21 fast to the upper end of a tubular shaft 22. The shaft 22 is journaled in bearings 23 secured to the main frame 1-1 of the machine and is provided at its lower end with a driving pulley 24 by which the shaft 22 and the throwing arm are rotated at high speed about the vertical axis of the shaft.

The upper surface of the throwing arm 20 is provided with a circular aperture disposed concentric with the shaft 22 and this is initially filled by a non-rotatable transfer disc 25 resting on stops 26 which maintain the surface of the disc 25 exactly in flush relation with the surface of the throwing arm 20. The disc 25 is provided with a down wardly olfset concentric chamber 27 in which is contained a flanged disc 28 fast to the upper end of a shaft 30 telescopically mounted within the tubular shaft 22. A compression spring 29 is interposed between the flanged disc 28 and the bottom of the chamber 27, and this spring serves to hold the transfer disc 25 yieldingly in position upon its stops 26 and to permit lost motion of the shaft 30 with respect to the disc 25 when the shaft 30 is moved upwardly.

The shaft 30 is provided at its lower end with a sleeve 31 and this supplies connection with a cam lever 32. The cam lever is operated in the proper timed relation by a cam, not shown, which may be driven by a driving pulley 32' secured to the lower end of the tubular shaft 22 which, as already explained, is driven by the pulley 24.

The shaft 3% carries near its upper end a spider 33 carrying three upstanding pins 34 projecting into and movable through apertures provided for them in the transfer disc 25 and operating to hold the target concentrically thereon during the transferring step. The spider 33 rests upon a collar 35 which is pinned to the shaft 30.

When the spider 33 is lifted the pins 34 are projected upwardly through the perforations of the transferring disc 25 in position to locate the dished target 10 by engaging at three points its inner annular rim surface.

Spaced below the collar 35 is a perforated disc 36 supported by a compression spring 37 which rests upon the top end of the tubular shaft 22 within the hub 21 and encircles the solid shaft 30. Upon the upper surface of the throwing arm 20 is provided a pair of squeeze arms 38 initially disposed in divergent relation adjacent to the periphery of a target as delivered to the throwing arm in the position shown in FIG. 2. Each of the squeeze arms is secured to the upper end of a short vertical shaft journaled in the upper wall section of the throwing arm and provided at its lower end with a beveled gear 39. This meshes with a beveled gear 40 on the outer end of a short horizontal shaft mounted beneath the upper wall section of the arm 20 and carrying at its inner end a crank disc and pin 41. The crank pins 41 from both of these discs are engaged between the collar 35 and the disc 36. Accordingly, when the shaft 30 is drawn downwardly against the compression of the springs 29 and 37 and while the transfer plate 25 is held in its flush position, the crank pins 41 are oscillated and the squeeze arms 38 operated to advance the just-delivered target from its concentric position shown in FIG. 1 to an off-center position as indicated in dot and dash lines in FIG. 2. In this displaced off-center position, the target becomes subject for the first time to centrifugal force by reason of its eccentric position on the rotating throwing arm 20.

The upper wall section of the arm 2% is provided with a long straight track 42 along which the target rolls or slides under the influence of centrifugal force when released from its off-center position. A shorter parallel track 43 cooperates in keeping the target in the required path outwardly along the surface of the throwing arm.

The off-center position of the target is determined by a movable trigger block 44 movable in transverse guide ways on the upper wall section of the throwing arm and operated by a crank arm 45 fast to a vertical shaft 46 journaled in the arm 20. At its lower end the shaft 46 is fast to the hub of a short arm 47 arranged to oscillate beneath the lower wall section of the throwing arm 20 and best shown in FIGS. 4 and The arm 47 is operated by a trigger pin 48 carried by an apertured plate 49 and normally retracted to its lower and inoperative position by a compression spring 56 which encircles it and bears against a head formed on the lower end of the pin. The plate 49 may be rotated about the arm of the shaft 22 to vary the position of the trigger pin and so control the angle of flight of the target. Adjustment of the plate 49 is made manually through the medium of a hand rod 51.

The trigger pin 48 rests at its lower end upon an apertured sheet metal support 52 having an angular ear at its left-hand side, as shown in FIG. 1, perforated to receive with clearance a pin projecting upwardly from the core 54 of a solenoid 53 fast to the frame 11. The support 52 is pivotally mounted at its right-hand side upon the frame 11. When the solenoid is energized by closing a switch conveniently located the core 54 is moved upwardly striking the support 52 and so rocking it with the trigger pin upwardly in its operative position where the pin 43 will encounter latch mechanism for rocking the arm 47 as the latter rotates beneath the throwing arm 20.

The arm 47 is connected through a short link 55 to a latch piece 56 pivotally mounted on a pivot screw 57 projecting downwardly from the hub 21 and carrying a trip arm 58 which is rotated with the arm 20 into contact with the trigger pin when the latter is elevated to its operative position by action of the solenoid 53. The hub 21 also carries a pivoted reset latch 59 which acts to hold the latch piece 56 in the position to which it is swung by contact of the trip lever 58 with the trigger pin as above explained. The trigger block 44 is thus held in its outer inoperative position during a partial revolution of the throwing arm 20 and until the target has left the arm in its flight. Upon the next ensuing revolution of the arm 20, the trigger pin 48 trips the reset latch 59 and the latch parts are returned by their springs to their initial positions as shown in FIG. 5 while the trigger block 44 is again advanced to its operative position as shown in FIG. 2. If the trigger block 44 were not delayed in its return to operative position it would touch the target and retard its outward movement on the throwing arm.

The machine comes to rest with its parts in the positions shown in the figures of the drawing. When the trap is to be used the motor driving the shaft 22 is first set in rotation and through the pulley 32' the cam shaft is also rotated upon which is mounted the cam operating the cam arm 32. These elements are not herein shown but are substantially identical to the corresponding parts shown in my earlier United States Letters Patent No. 2,711,726, June 28,1955.

Upon closing the controlling switch for the first time the shaft 30 with the disc 33 is elevated, the stack of targets is momentarily released, the disc descends with the lowermost target and the remainder of the stack is engaged and held by the rolls as soon as the lowermost target has passed out of range beneath them. The squeeze arms operate to displace the transferred target and the latter is arrested in its predetermined displaced position by the trigger block 44. The throwing arm rotates continuously with the target held in its displaced position until the controlling switch is again closed.

When the switch is closed for the next and for each ensuing time the trigger block 44 is retracted and the target launched. The transfer disc is again operated to transfer a new target from the bottom of the stack to the throwing arm at its center of rotation and then the squeeze arms displace it to the trigger block 44.

It will thus be seen that the machine is fully automatic and that each closing of the control switch results in the launching of a target and the moving of a new target in ready position.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described in detail an illustrative embodiment thereof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A target throwing trap comprising a throwing member rotatable about a vertical axis and having a circular opening concentric therewith, a vertically movable nonrotatable disc initially located flush in said opening, means for holding a stack of targets concentrically in line with the axis of the throwing member, means for moving said disc upwardly to engage concentrically the lowermost target of the stack and then downward to transfer the target while continuously supported on the non-rotatable disc to the throwing member, and mechanically actuated means for moving a target to eccentric position on the throwing member.

2. A target throwing trap comprising a throwing member rotatable about a vertical axis and having a vertically movable non-rotatable disc concentric its axis, means for holding a stack of targets in line with and concentrically above the path of travel of said disc, means for elevating the disc into target supporting position and then lowering the disc with a target to the throwing member with the target concentrically disposed thereon, escapement mechanism for releasing the lowermost target of the stack in timed relation to the descent of the disc, and mechanically actuated means for transversely moving a target from the disc to off-center position on the throwing member.

3. A target throwing trap including a rotary throwing arm having a non-rotatable transfer disc concentrically disposed therein, stops holding the disc in flush relation to the surface of the throwing arm, divergent squeeze arms for transversely displacing a target from its concentric position on the transfer disc to an eccentric position on the throwing arm, and mechanism for operating the squeeze arms while holding the transfer disc yieldingly against its stops.

4. A target throwing trap including telescopically arranged shafts, one carrying an apertured throwing arm and the other carrying a yieldingly mounted non-rotatable transfer disc, stops for locating the said disc flush with the surface of the throwing arm, and target gauging pins initially retracted below the face of said disc and movable to engage a target thereon and hold it concentric on the dies in the transferring step.

5. A target throwing machine including an overhead magazine for targets and an underlying throwing arm, rotatable about the projected axis of the magazine and having an aperture concentric therewith, a perforated nonrototable transfer disc filling said aperture, a spider mounted beneath the disc, and upstanding pins on the spider passing through the perforations of the disc for engaging and holding a target concentrically on the disc thereon against lateral displacement.

6. A target throwing trap as described in claim 5, further characterized in that a spring controlled lost-motion connection is interposed between the transfer disc and the spider.

7. A target throwing trap having a throwing arm in the form of a rectangular box-shaped structure with upper and lower walls, a vertical rotary tubular shaft secured at its upper end to the lower wall of the arm for rotating the same, a transfer disc let into the upper wall of the arm, and a concentric solid shaft movable telescopically within the tubular shaft for transmitting vertical movernent to said disc, the said throwing arm carrying a track for directing the outward travel of a target thereon and also a trigger block, while the lower wail of the arm carries trigger mechanism for retracting said block.

8. A target throwing trap comprising an overhead magazine for a stack of targets, releasable rolls engaging the circumferential edges of certain targets for clamping the stack in position in said magazine, a throwing arm rotatable at a level below the magazine, a transfer member movable upwardly from the throwing arm to lift momentarily the stack of targets while released by said clamping rolls and then to descend to the throwing arm with the lowermost target concentrically disposed thereon while the clamping rolls engage and retain the remainder of the stack, and an arm for engaging one side of a target and pushing it to eccentric position.

9. In a target throwing trap, a rotary throwing member having an aperture concentric with its axis of rotation, a non-rotatable transfer disc fitting said aperture and having spaced perforations therethrough and a downwardly offset chamber, and a shaft having a spider with pins that project through the perforations of the disc and elements of a lost motion connection with the disc located in its said offset chamber.

10. A target throwing trap comprising a box shaped throwing arm having spaced upper and lower walls and being mounted for revolution about a vertical axis, the upper wall of said arm being recessed and containing a non-rotatable transfer disc in flush relation, and a spider contained between the upper and lower walls of the throwing arm and having an operating connection with said transfer disc for elevating it from the throwing arm to pick up a target disc for elevating it from the throwing arm to pick up a target, and pins for holding the target in concentric position upon the disc.

11. A target throwing machine as described in claim 10, further characterized in that the lower wall of the throwing arm is connected to the upper end of a vertical hollow shaft and the spider is connected to the upper end of a solid shaft concentrically contained within the hollow shaft.

12. A target throwing machine having a throwing rotor provided with a non-rotatable target-transferring disc disposed concentrically with its axis of rotation, pivoted arms for displacing a target to an eccentric position afiter its concentric delivery to said disc, a releasable trigger block for temporarily blocking the target in said displaced position, and means for retracting said block and delaying its return to operative position until the target is launched.

13. A target throwing machine as dmcribed in claim 12, further characterized in that a latch piece and movable trigger pin are arranged to effect withdrawal of the trigger block, and a reset lever is provided for releasing the latch piece only after rotation of throwing rotor through a substantial angle, whereby the target is given time to leave the rotor without obstruction.

14. A target throwing machine having a driven rotary throwing member with a concentric aperture therein, a perforated target-transferring disc initially fitting within said aperture flush with the surface of the throwing member and held at all times from rotation, a non-rotatable spider located below said transfer disc and having upstanding pins slidable in the perforations of the transferring disc, spring means tending at all times to move apart the transferring disc and the spider, and cam-operated means for moving the disc and spider together whereby the pins are projected through the transferring disc to engage and center a circular target thereon.

15. A target throwing machine as described in claim 14, further characterized in that the target-centering pins of the non-rotatable spider are located to engage the inner annular rim surface of a dished circular target upon the transferring disc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,670,727 Hessenbruch Mar. 2, 1954 2,711,726 Darrell June 28, 1955 2,818,987 Krupp et a1. Jan. 7, 1958 

1. A TARGET THROWING TRAP COMPRISING A THROWING MEMBER ROTATABLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS AND HAVING A CIRCULAR OPENING CONCENTRIC THEREWITH, A VERTICALLY MOVABLE NONROTATABLE DISC INITIALLY LOCATED FLUSH IN SAID OPENING, MEANS FOR HOLDING A STACK OF TARGETS CONCENTRICALLY IN LINE WITH THE AXIS OF THE THROWING MEMBER, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID DISC UPWARDLY TO ENGAGE CONCENTRICALLY THE LOWERMOST TARGET OF THE STACK AND THEN DOWNWARD TO TRANSFER THE TARGET WHILE CONTINUOUSLY SUPPORTED ON THE NON-ROTATABLE DISC TO THE THROWING MEMBER, AND MECHANICALLY ACTUATED 